70 Anos de Brasil

In 1974, director Jurandyr Passos Noronha released "70 Anos de Brasil" based on recovered footages of many Brazilian films. This documentary shows, for example, a soccer game between São Paulo and Palestra Itália (presently Palmeiras); many airplanes; the first car race, in the "Circuito de São Gonçalo" on 19 September 1909; wide streets and avenues; the participation of Brazil in World War II; the bohemian Lapa; some cinema artists of the 50s. Although being an important document of the life in the past of Brazil, this movie is a positivist view of Brazil and the images are elitist and are not representative of the history of Brazil. In the beginning of the Twentieth Century, soccer was a sport practiced by the elites, which were less than 10% of the Brazilian population, and the middle-class had not been formed yet; going to the movie theaters was a bourgeois social act in the structure of leisure – common people usually went to the circus-theater. Planes were the symbol of the capitalist modernism. The unique scene with ordinary people was the two kids dancing and playing in Lapa. Although being released in 1974, the movie does not make any reference to the military dictatorship, limiting to show a minor manifestation of students. The documented history of the Brazilian cinema in the beginning of the Twentieth Century was practically erased: there are only fourteen (14) films needing restoration from this period, although more than two thousand (2000) movies have been made in these times of documental production. Therefore, the chance to see this documentary is the opportunity to revive our recent history. Unfortunately, this rare testimony of the Brazilian history is not available on VHS or DVD, and needs restoration. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "70 Anos de Brasil" ("70 Years of Brazil")